Militants clash with prison guards in Baghdad

A source in the Iraqi Internal Affairs Ministry has confirmed that unidentified armed militants broke into a prison in Baghdad late Wednesday and clashed with security guards there, after launching an attack with explosives. The source told Arabstoday: “The militants used an explosive in front of the Al-Hout prison in Al-Tagi, northern Baghdad today, followed by an attempt to break in.” The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added that “the attackers were engaged in clashes with prison security agents, and the clashes still continue” adding “the attack resulted in a number of deaths and injuries, but the exact numbers are not yet known.” Iraqi militants had attempted July 31 2011 to break into the Counterterrorism Agency building in central Baghdad to free detainees held there. Following clashes with security forces that lasted for hours, the building was cleared of militants, eight of which were killed. A security officer was also killed while two others were wounded in the attack.